calvi brambilla transforms venetian palazzo into barovier&toso's luxurious glass showroom

located on the historic canals of murano, italy, glass manufacturer barovier&toso has opened its newest showroom. with a design by studio calvi brambilla, the project sees a structure built in 1938 transformed into an authentic temple of luxury featuring the company’s 700-year history throughout the 900 square meters that have been divided into three levels.

‘to make the new palazzo a reality, we have thought about a space where history and the contemporary can coexist, as the two primary essences of barovier&toso,’ commented paolo brambilla from calvi brambilla. ‘we have been able to harmoniously combine an essential, modern interior design concept with the majesty of murano glass, enhanced by a context full of light and reflections,’ added fabio calvi.

all images courtesy of barovier&toso unless otherwise stated

the project by calvi brambilla for barovier&toso was based on a contemporary reinterpretation of the typical architectural features of historic noble palaces; from the panelling to the venetian terrazzo floors, and from the layout of the rooms to the way the color sets them apart. consequently, the journey through the building results in a unique visual experience that demonstrates that both traditional and contemporary styles can coexist in the same space.

the lighting pieces are accompanied by contemporary art pieces that create a tribute to the venice biennale

on the ground floor, visitors can find the reception and shopping area. featuring dark tones of black wrapped in soft lighting, the space sees a selection of suspension and table lamps glow in an intimate and exclusive atmosphere. a golden staircase acts as the heart of the building, connecting the three levels and overlooking at a two-story space that holds taif — an immense chandelier designed in 1980 for one of the residences of the king of saudi arabia.

the terrazzo floor on the common areas is black with barovier&toso’s red glass accents

on the first floor, a series of monochrome spaces in white, gold, blue, black and red tell barovier&toso’s story through their most prestigious collections. each room showcases a play between repeated elements in different hues like floor, glass panels, mirrors and 70s furniture. the interior design showcases the company’s versatile way through examples of design freedom in terms of form, colors and compositional solutions.

with 700 years, the company has is able to speak many design languages

the second and uppermost level hosts a hall for larger chandeliers in classic, modern and contemporary style. the space is airy and essential and the lamps can be moved vertically for a complete appreciation. the journey concludes with a bar area as well as a large cafe in tones of pink, created to illustrate the brand’s great potential on the contract market.

all rooms play with the same elements in different colors

‘we are proud to announce the opening of palazzo barovier&toso,’ says rinaldo invernizzi, the company’s president. ‘a project that is a main priority to us, confirming our programme of continuous growth and internationalization. with this achievement we celebrate our history, our human resources and the extraordinary masterpieces of glass, in a successful combination of innovation and tradition, art and design.’

the showroom aims to showcase that the company has two faces — tradition and modernity